NASA's X-59 'quiet' supersonic jet rolls out for its 1st flying test drive

Get an inside look at NASA’s revolutionary X-59, the “quiet” supersonic jet designed to fly faster than the speed of sound—without the thunderous sonic booms of the past. Developed in partnership with Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works, the 99-foot-long X-59 features a striking elongated nose and no traditional front windscreen, using an advanced External Vision System for forward viewing instead. This experimental jet aims to cruise at Mach 1.4 (about 925 mph) at 55,000 feet, creating only a gentle “sonic thump” rather than a boom.

In this video, witness the X-59 as it rolls out for its very first test drive at the historic Plant 42 in Palmdale, California. Watch as crews perform critical taxi tests—an essential step before the jet’s highly anticipated first flight. The X-59 is the centerpiece of NASA’s Quesst mission, which seeks to gather data that could help change regulations and ultimately allow commercial supersonic flight over land, reducing air travel times for all.

Don’t miss this milestone in the future of flight—a new era where speed meets serenity in the skies!